Locking means for apparatus assemblies



Feb. 20, 1945. y E WY, BRElSH ET AL 2,370,003

LOCKING MEANS FOR APPARATUS ASSEMBLIES Filed Jan. 8, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 20, 1945. E. w. BRExscH ET AL 4 LOCKING MEANS FOR APPARATUS ASSEMBLIES Filed Jan. 8, 1944 2 shetsfsneet 2 M; fly/f 5.

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,am n mi m No. o .WfT N0] .M lpa m Wmw P r a Patented Feb. 20, 1945 LOCKING FOR APPARATUS ASSEMBLIES Edgar W. Breisch, Edgewood, and Paul N. Bossart, Cheswick, Pa., assignors to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 8,'1944, Serial No. 517,572

Claims.

O-ur invention relates to locking means for apparatus assemblies, and more particularly to means for positively securing assemblies of railway train communication apparatus to the shelves of the equipment boxes and cabinets in which they are housed.

The receiving and transmitting apparatus of communication systems is frequently assembled on a chassis to form a unit or assembly that is portable and may be readily removed from its housing for inspection and test and for one assembly to be replaced by another one. It is important that such an assembly be firmly secured in the housing to avoid relative motion and vibration because of the microphonic noise that may be created.

In railway train communication systems where the receiving and transmitting assemblies are carried in a weatherproof equipment box which is secured to some part of the locomotive or car, protection against mechanical shock, vibration and relative motion is of extreme importance because the apparatus is maintained at all times in an active condition and microphonic noise caused by vibration and relative motion may be annoying. Also such vibration and motion may decrease the eciency with which communication is carried on, and may cause breakage oi the apparatus.

Accordingly, a featureof our invention is the provision of novel and improved means to secure apparatus assemblies to the shelves of the boxes and cabinets in whichthey are housed.

Another feature of our invention is the provision of novel means to secure transmitting and receiving assemblies of railway train communication apparatus in the train carried equipment boxes in which these assemblies are housed, and wherewith an assembly can be quickly released and removed from the equipment box for test, inspection and replacement.

Other features, objects and advantages of our invention will appear as the specification progresses.

To accomplish the features and advantages of our invention we preferably secure two guide bars to the shelf on which the assembly is to be carried. These guide bars are spaced apart and each is formed with a beveled edge, preferably the two beveled edges being formed on the outside edges of the guide bars and made to slope in opposite` directions. Two locking bars are mounted on the chassis of the apparatus assembly in a position to straddle the two guide bars, and each of these locking bars is formed with a beveled edge to mate with the beveled edge of the adjacent guide bar. One of the locking bars is fixed on the chassis and the second one is pivotally mounted on the chassis. A cam shaft is journaled in the chassis in parallel relation to the pivoted locking bar. Rotation of the cam shaft brings its cam surface into contact with adjustable pins or bolts secured to the pivoted locking bar and forces this pivoted locking bar into engagement with the adjacent guide bar. Sufcient cam movement of the cam shaft is provided so that the entire assembly is shifted to force the fixed locking bar into engagement with its adjacent bar and the assembly is anchored againstl movement in any direction. A manually operable lever is secured in the cam shaft for rotation thereof. It

is apparent, however, that this arrangement can be reversed and the guide bars fixed on the chassis of the assembly and the locking bars and cam shaft mounted on the shelf, and it is understood that our invention includes both arrangements.l

We shall describe one form of apparatus em-l bodying our invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims. n

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view with certain parts broken away showing one form of locking means embodying our invention when used with an apparatus assembly of railway train communication systems. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan View showing the locking means of Fig. 1. Fig.,3 is a side elevation, taken on theline III-III of Fig. 1 to show the pivoted locking bar. Fig. 4 is a front view showing in voutline at a reduced scale an assembly to which the locking means embodying our invention is applied, the assembly being in place on the shelf of the cabinet in which it is housed.

In each of the different `views, like reference characters designate similar parts.

It is to be understood that our invention is not limited to assemblies for railway train communication systems, and this one application serves to illustrate the many places where apparatus embodying our invention is useful.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 2 designates a cabinet having a shelf 3 on which an assembly AS of 'communication apparatus is carried. Two guide bars 4 and 5 are secured on shelf 3 by rivets 6. These guide bars 4 and 5 are spaced apart on the shelf and extend across the shelf and as shown they are parallel to each other. Guide bars 4 and 5 are formed with beveled edges 'l and 8, respectively, the beveled edges being on the outside and formed to slope` in opposite directions.

The communication apparatus which goes to make up the assembly AS is omitted from the drawings except as it is shown in outline in Fig. 4, because the specific apparatus included in the assembly forms no part of our invention. It is suilicient for this application to point out that the apparatus of the assembly AS is mounted Aon a chassis having side walls 9 and I0 which are in fixed relation with each other due to cross supports not shown, and on which cross supportsthe apparatus is carried, such apparatus including` electron tubes, condensers, coupling transformers, resistors and similar associated elements. It is also to be noted thatthe assembly AS may be provided with circuit terminals of the plug-in type to engage corresponding terminals mounted in the cabinet 2 when the assembly AS is placed on the shelf 3.

Two locking bars |2 and I3 are securedto thesides 9 and IU, respectively, of the chassis in a position to cooperate with the guide bars 4 and 5, respectively. Locking bars |`2 and I3 are provided with beveled edges which mate with the beveled edges of the guide bars, beveled edge I4 of locking bar I2 mating with the beveled edge IA of the guide bar 4 and the beveled edge |5 of locking bar I3 mating with the beveled edge 8 of guide bar 5. In other words, the two locking bars I2 and I3 are disposed so as to straddle the two guide bars 4 and 5 with some clearance when the assembly is shoved into place on the shelf 3.

The locking bar I2 is fixed on the chassis by two L shaped members I6 and l'l, the. vertical legs of the members I6 and I1 being secured by means of screws I8 to the sides of the chassis and the locking bar I2 being secured to the horizontal legs of the members I6 and Il by means of screws I9. To accurately position the members IG and I1 and in turn accurately position the locking bar I2, we preferably use dowel pinsr 2U.

As shown best in Fig. 3, the locking bar I3 is pivotally mounted in the. chassis by pivot pins 2| and 22, journaled in the side walls 9 and I0, respectively. Locking bar I3 is carried on the pivot pins 2| and 22 by two L shaped'members 23 and 24, the horizontal legs of whichv 9 and I0 by bearings 33 and 34 which are held on the respective side walls by meansV of screws 38. The shaft 32 is formed with a cam surface 26 which is disposed to engage the heads of the adjustable bolts 30 and 3|. A lever 35 is secured to the outer end of shaft 32 for rotation of the shaft. Shaft 32 is disposed for rotation through an arc slightly more than 180 degrees, the limits of its movement being defined by a stop plate 40 secured to the chassis through the screws 38 and having its outer ends bent to form. stops in the path of the lever 35.

A coiled biasing springI 4| has one end secured to a stud 42 fixed in the side wall `|'|l and4 its other end hooked over a pin 39 secured to the L..` shaped member 24. Spring 4|' thus biases the locking bar |3 for the two adjustable boltsv l3|) and 3| to en.- gage the cam surface 26 of the cam shaft 32'.

I'he4 parts are shown in theA drawings in theirl positions when the assembly AS is, being putin place on the shelf 3, the locking bars I2 and I3 The twoV members 28v on the assembly straddling the guide bars 4 and 5 on shelf 3 with some clearance. When the assembly is in place, the lever is rotated clockwise as viewed in Figs. l and 4 a little over 180 degrees, and thus turning the cam shaft 32 a corresponding angular movement. 'I'he cam surface 26 of shaft 32 engages the heads of the adjusting bolts 30 and 3| to swing locking bar I3 on its pivot pins 2| and 22 to bring the beveled edge I5 of the locking bar I3 into engagement with the beveled edge 8 of guide bar 5. 'I'he parts are so proportioned that after locking bar I3 thus engages the guide bar 5, further rotation of shaft.32r causes the assembly AS to be shifted to bring the beveled edge |4 of locking bar I2 into engagement with the beveled edge 1 of guide bar 4 and thus firmly securing the assembly in position on the shelf 3. With lever 35 rotated a little better than degrees it is retained in its rotated position against vibration and shocks, but if other means for securing lever 35 in its rotated position is required, such can be effected by a pin or latch.

Although in the form of the invention here disclosed the guide bars are xed to the shelf and the locking bars and cam shaft are mounted on the assembly chassis, it is to be pointed out, as explained hereinbefore,` this arrangement can be reversed and the guide bars fixed on the chassis and the locking bars and cam shaft mounted on the shelf. When a considerable number of spare assemblies are necessary, the overall cost would be reduced by this latter arrangement because only the relatively inexpensive fixed bars would be required on each assembly and only one of the more expensive pivoted bars and associated cam shafts would be required on the stationary shelf. In practicing our invention it is contemplated that either arrangement can be used.

Locking means such as here disclosed has the advantages that it requires a minimum of parts which can readily be applied to the chassis of an assembly, it securely anchors the assembly against vibration and relative motion in any dlrection and can quickly be released for removing the assembly for test, inspection or replacement.

Although we have herein shown and described but one form of locking means for apparatus assemblies embodying our invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be mlade therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having. thus described our invention, what we claim is:

l. In combination, an apparatus assembly mounted on a chassis, to form a unit which is to be positioned on a shelf of a housing, two guide bars secured to said shelf, each of said guide bars formed with a locking edge, two locking bars mounted on said chassis with one of the locking bars adjacent one of said guide bars and the other locking bar adjacent the other guide bar, each of said locking barsl formed with a lockingy edge that mates. with the locking edge of the adjacent guide bar, one of said locking bars fixed in position on the chassis and the other locking bar pivotally mounted on the chassis, a cam journaled in the chassis and formed with a cam surface which operatively engages said pivoted locking bar to force the. locking Vbars into engagement with the. respective adjacent guide bars to anchor said assembly to said shelf when said cam is rotated from a first to a second position,

and means secured to said cam for rotation thereof.

2. In combination, an apparatus unit which is to be mounted on a shelf of an equipment box, two guide ba'rs secured to said shelf spaced apart, each of said guide bars formed with a beveled edge and the two beveled edges disposed to slope in opposite directions, two locking bars mounted on said apparatus unit with one of the lockingbars adjacent one of said guide bars and the other locking bar adjacent the other guide bar, each of said locking bars formed with a beveled edge that mates with the beveled edge of the adjacent guide bar, a first one of said locking bars fixed in position on said unit, a second one of said locking bars pivotally mounted on said unit and biased to a position out of engagement with the adjacent guide bar, a cam shaft journaled in said unit in parallel relationship to said pivoted locking bar, said cam shaft formed with a cam surface which operatively engages said pivoted locking bar to engage the beveled edes of the locking bars with the beveled edges of the guide bars to anchor said apparatus unit to said shelf when said cam shaft is rotated from a first to a second position, and a lever secured to said shaft for rotation thereof.

3. In combination, an apparatus assembly mounted on a chassis to form a unit which is to be carried on a shelf of a housing, two guide bars xed on said shelf spaced apart parallel to each other, the edge of each guide bar remote from the other bar beveled with the two beveled edges sloping in opposite directions, two locking bars mounted on said chassis, said locking bars positioned tol straddle said guide bars when said assembly is placed on said shelf, each of said locking bars formed with a beveled edge that mates with the beveled edge of the adjacent guide bar, a first one of said locking bars fixed in position on said chassis and a second one of the locking bars pivotally mounted on the chassis, said second locking bar spring biased away from the adjacent guide bar for the assembly to be readily placed on and removed from the shelf, a cam shaft journaled in said chassis parallel to said pivoted locking bar, an adjustable member secured in said pivoted locking bar and formed with a surface that engages a cam surface of said cam shaft, said cam surface of said shaft to force said pivoted locking bar to engage its adjacent guide bar and the assembly to be shiftedl to bring the xed locking bar into engagement with its adjacent guide bar to secure said assembly on the shelf against motion in any direction when said cam shaft is rotated from a first to a second position, and a lever secured to said cam shaft for rotation thereof.

4. In combination, an apparatus assembly mounted on a chassis to form a unit adaptable of being located on a shelf, a first and a second guide bar fixed on said shelf spaced apart paraliei to each other, the edge of said first guide bar remote from said second guide bar formed with a locking surface, a first and a second locking bar mounted on said chassis, said locking bars positioned to straddle said guide bars when said assembly is placed on said shelf with the first locking bar adjacent the first guide bar and the second locking bar adjacent the second guide bar, said first locking bar pivotally mounted on the chassis and said second locking bar fixed in f position on the chassis, said first locking bar formed with a locking surface that mates with the locking surface of said first guide bar, said first locking bar spring biased away from said first guide bar to permit said assembly to be placed on the shelf with some clearance between the locking bars and the guide bars, a cam shaft journaled in the chassis parallel to said first locking bar, adjustable members secured to said first locking bar and each adjustable member formed with a surface that engages a cam surface of said shaft, said cam surface of said shaft to swing said :first locking bar for its locking surface to engage the locking surface of said first guide bar and the assembly to be shifted to bring said second locking bar into engagement with said second guide bar to anchor the assembly on said shelf when said shaftis rotated from a first to a second position, and a lever secured v to said cam shaft for rotation thereof;

5. In combination, an apparatus assembly mounted on a chassis to form a unit adaptable of being located on a shelf, a first pair of bars one fixed on said shelf and one on said chassis, said first pair of bars formed with mating locking edges, a second pair of bars mounted one on said shelf and one on said chassis, said second pair of bars formed with mating locking edges, a selected one 'of said second pair of bars fixed and the other one pivotally mounted to swing into and out of engagement with its associated bar, a cam shaft journaled adjacent said pivoted bar and formed with a cam surface which operatively engages said pivoted bar to swing that bar to bring the locking edges of said second pair of bars into engagement and to subsequently shift said unit to bring the lockingedges vof said first pair of bars into engagement to secure said unit to the shelf against motion in any direction, and means secured to said cam shaft for rotation thereof. l

EDGAR W. BREISCH. PAUL N. BOSSART.-. 

